Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-07

Bill Nye Descants Upon Young
IveS's Ideas in Finance.


curiosity on the part of the American
people to know how large fortunes are
acquired is a healthy IN, and the de-
sire OF the press as well as the people
% investigate the parlor magic and fun
ny business by which man can buy
two millions Of dollars worth of stock
N the Aurora Borealis without paying
Tor il. stick a quill in it and initiate the
stock to twenty millions. then borrow
ihirty-iive millions on the new stock by
booming it, make an assignment. bust
and slide lifty-pound ledger up his
sleeve. is most gratifying.
For the benefit and entertainment of
hose who stu believe that the Sunday
paper IS not an engine of destruction,
and for the consideration of those who
may have been kept away from church
on this summer Sabbath morning by
sickness or Insomnia, let Us turn for a
moment to the thoughtful scrutiny Of
Mr.. Henry ;. Ives, the Young Napoleon
Of Wall street.
In the first place, Mr. Ives has done
nothing new. Starting out, no doubt,
with Mr. Gould rs his model, he has
kept up the imitation even to the loss
Of memory and blighted powers of re-
calling the past during an investiga-
lion. q use Mr.. Gould's name IMPLY
as an illustration have no special
antipathy towards Mr.. Gould.) Person
ally we are friendly. He made his
money by means of his comatose
memory and nabby integrity. while |
made mine by means of earnest. hon
est toll and iur.d Imagination.
But in the case of Mr.. Ives, the
gentle, polite failure to remember, the
earnest desire not to tell a lie or a any
hing else, the courteous and obtrusive
effort to avoid being too positive about
anything that would assist anybody in
ascertaining nightingale, all remind
the close student of Nlr. Jay Gould.
The conversation during the investi-
CATION for one day ran something like
his:
"Mr. Ives, did you in making your
assignment turn over all the books con-
nected with your business?'
did you mean my library?'
NO; the books of account. the day
book, cash book, ledger, &c. &c"
"Ohr'
IL ask if you turned over all such
books on the date of your assignment"
Il could hardly tell that. Al least.
| would only swear on information and
belief.
"Well,to the best of your kno Wedge
and belief, did you turn over those
books at that timer"
II think did. but am not positive
rs TO the date"
What makes you think you d.d?"
Because did frequently turn the
books over, IN order to see how they
looked on the other side
mir. Ives, we find that several of
the more important books connected
with your office and the firm of Henry
S Ives & Co. are missing. Do you
know where they are?'
mo, | do not.
Were they in your office prior to
your assignment"
yes. they were there, according to
the best of my knowledge aud belief,
up TO the time that they were not
there
Have YOU any idea, Mr.. Ives, where
those books are now?'
NO, sir; only in general way.
How do you mean in a general
way?'
well, mean that know only in
what might be called a general way
well, Mr.. Ives, will YOU state then,
in a general way, where those books
are now?'
yes, sir; they are elsewhere.
What makes OH say they are else
where. Mr.. Ives?'
Because they are not there"
well. now. will you tell us whether
you removed those books from the
office of H. 5. Ives d Co. or not?'
"Dou ask me to answer that question
personality
Yes"
"Do you wish verbal answer or
would you rather have it in wrting?"
Answer orally"
well. then, l did not, to my knowl-
edge.
Would You have been apt to know
of it if you had taken them away your
self?"
well, only in general way"
"Wou!d you have known about it il
any one else had taken them awayP"
Il think | would. but l might not
There was great deal of passing
along our street, and they may have
been taken while l was looking out OF